At the weekend I.....

[Deep Black]

..... Went to a hippy Rock festival in Donington:

http://www.offthetracks.co.uk/

Some interesting bands, great weather (if you like lots of sun), & loads of Real Ales & Cider (why don't more festivals have that?)

[RedKing]

Had a bbq - hot, hot sun, cold, cold beer. New paddling pool for kids = happiness for all.

[rac]

PLanned to go to a biker rally, drink a lot and camp over- but the traditional bank holiday weather put paid to any thought of venturing out.

Wrote some comics instead.

[jag]

..... Went to a hippy Rock festival in Donington:

http://www.offthetracks.co.uk/

Some interesting bands, great weather (if you like lots of sun), & loads of Real Ales & Cider (why don't more festivals have that?)

Did you smoke any dope deep?

[disrepdog]

Went to a friend's wedding reception which was great and had a free bar.

Then did 3 geocaches (http://www.geocaching.com)while walking on the Quantocks yesterday. (you don't necessarily need a GPS, just an OS map and a download the of the coordinates from google earth, great way to liven up a walk esp with kids)

[jag]

geocaching is great fun, as you say disrepdog, brilliant for the kids. I've got my whole family hooked now.

[Deep Black]

Did you smoke any dope deep?
Nah, not my thing. Though many people clearly were, the whole place smelt of the stuff:D

I just stick to the booze & lost of it

[Champagne Socialist]

Did gardening, drank beer

[BeckyH]

went on long bike rides and finished the 2nd edit of a short story I will finish-finish tonight.

[jag]

Nah, not my thing. Though many people clearly were, the whole place smelt of the stuff:D

I just stick to the booze & lost of it

I really only smoke the stuff on A Thursday evening when the boys come round for the Playstation night, and occasionally I'll have the odd pipe or two whilst trawling the net.

[Deep Black]

Like this:

http://www.myspaceantics.com/images/funny/big-pipe.jpg

[jag]

:D yup that's me.
This weekend I was going to go on an organised cycle run following the old railway lines of Dundee, but alas work commitments forbid this.:mad:

[Conscious Bob]

Recovering from my stag night.

[Deep Black]

......... went to a big comunal pool in the park for water/daughter related wetness

[Champagne Socialist]

Floated around in the pool with a few beers cooling in the water and herded those same beers to me with a remote controlled hovercraft.
All in all pretty good.

[RedKing]

On Saturday I weather proofed a new fence. A big one. Both sides and a couple of gates. On Sunday I pretty much lay down, moaning gently.

[rac]

Went back home for the weekend for my son's birthday (see 'What ails you' for further details.

[Hilarity Unit]

Visited the RSPB reserve at Fowlsheugh with family - didn't fall off cliff & saw thousands of Razorbills, Guillemots, Herring Gulls, Fulmars & 3 Puffins.

[Deep Black]

... Went to a beer festival & had a very tasty take-away curry on the way home (still hungry though)

[Champagne Socialist]

Turned 33

And on an unrelated note, met Elithiomel, or at least Mark Elithiomel Taylor, the new born son of friends of mine who I didn't even know were Fans of TMH

[jag]

Took too much Diazepam and slept a truckload on Saturday afternoon, woke up all confused, watched shit-inducing TV in a daze, listened to Bob Harris on Radio 2 till the early hours, then drove for miles with no destination at warp factor -1. Had a spliff then thought, why do I do this?
So that's it , no more pills or prescription drugs for me.

[rac]

Went to a talk by Benedict Allen on Saturday night.
Very interesting.

My partner is an utter fangirl of his, and he was very gratious in sigingin all her books.
In fact, he hadn't finished signing them when the janitor of the theatre we were in started switching off the lights and threw us out, so we spent another hour our so sitting outside at a picnic table chatting with him.
Nice guy- but very tall..!

[Deep Black]

This guy?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Allen

Highlights & mishaps are interesting

[rac]

That's him, Deep.
The eating the dog story was a big thing for him, I think, and the guilt over it played on his mind for years after.

And he showed us his crocodile markings!

[Conscious Bob]

Enjoyed the last day of our honeymoon proper. Flew back Monday.

[Deep Black]

Where did you go? (sorry if it was mentioned previously - can't be arsed to look)

[phazedout]

attended the AC/DC gig in punchestown, Co Kildare.

'twas ok, more about the craic than the music really.
Phaze
on the "I may have a few this evening, the ongoing missing ut of contact g/f situ somewhat resolved but still feel bad to not have her vocie to listen to on the other end of the phone" ID

[Deep Black]

Off the wagon again then, does she know?


'twas ok, more about the craic than the music really
For that price? That's a pretty expensive "craic".

[Conscious Bob]

Where did you go? (sorry if it was mentioned previously - can't be arsed to look)

Cancun Mexico, superb. Mayan ruins, stunning scenery, dolphins and a fully inclusive Rui hotel.

We're so happy to be home...

I've found out that one of the guys that was on the same flight back as me is off his work with swine flu.

I feel alright.

[Champagne Socialist]

But what a great excuse to blag some more tome off... not that I'd encourage that

[edash]

Four weeks quarantine at least :)

[rac]

I was in Dublin watching Springsteen.
Three hours of utter awesome- apart from the pouring rain.

[Conscious Bob]

Three hours of utter awesome- apart from the pouring rain.

Oh the fugging rain, I got a ticket for Beloved and she says she'll refuse if she sees so much as a drop.

[jag]

Just finished a 6 day stint at work, so am enjoying my late night/tomorrow off.
Hardly watched any TV, but played a lot of fight night 4:).

[Deep Black]

... enjoyed a Cider & Cheese festival. What a winning combination

[rac]

I attended the opening of my beloved's exhibition:
http://www.inchmoregallery.co.uk/

[Deep Black]

Is all that stuff hers?

[rac]

Is all that stuff hers?

No- bizarrely, there's none of her stuff on that website!

You can find some here:
http://www.balnacra.com/

and here:

http://balnacra.blogspot.com/

[RedKing]

Hey rac, that's some good stuff there, the fire-fighter art especially.

[Conscious Bob]

Indeed so, looks like commission art, good portraits.

[rac]

Cheers guys!

(dunno why I'm saying that- I didn't paint any of them!)

Feel free to buy anything! Prints available..!

Ohhhh, I'm well trained..!

[disrepdog]

They are really good :D

[Conscious Bob]

I'm sorry I haven't a clue.

More a statement on my existence rather than the Radio Four show.

Jack Dee seems to be the number one choice to fill the Humph's shoes, going to see the show recorded.

[RedKing]

Worked on Saturday from 07:00 to 13:00, with a repeat on Sunday at the same time. Will be working a literal month of Sundays unless we all die from swine flu in the meantime...

[Deep Black]

...went to Robert Rankin's 60th Birthday Bash. We all dressed as Pirates & went on a Thames cruise:

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt46/DeepBlack23/25072009163.jpg

[Conscious Bob]

That's an awfully large ventriloquist dummy you've got there.

[Deep Black]

A vid on the day (part 1):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5rzQ3Jm0Kk

[Conscious Bob]

My Dad over at my place asked what I did on the computer. I was going to mention this website but instead I said 'just a bit of emailing'.

Not that I'm ashamed of you guys.

[BeckyH]

Went to the closest State Fair to my house. It's for the state I live in-that one is very far away. But we still managed to see some livestock-rams have huge bollocks-and some very cute bunnies and the Clydesdale hitch-pulling classes, and ride the sky- glider and eat our annual feast of corn dog, roasted corn, cream puff (the size of your head) batter dipped deep fried green beans, batter dipped deep fried cheese curds, smoked pulled lamb BBQ, and that 's when we ran out of money. We often add potato pancakes and bratwurst and a funnel cake to that list-but usually only when there are more than just me and mom on the trip.
It was a lovely day and I don't think I'll be eating much toady at all......

[jag]

Played my keyboard and sang to a captive audience of 525.

[Conscious Bob]

Played my keyboard and sang to a captive audience of 525.

Prison visit?

[Deep Black]

Good crowd, where was that then?

[jag]

At my workplace. We're doing a talent show and that was a dress rehearsal, tonight is the real thing, with buses coming from all over Scotland to watch!(Gulp).
It's my first venture into the world as a solo performer.

[Deep Black]

Good luck :)

[D.Brada]

Ive been into cleaning and arranging stuff that I had all over the place... and doing laundry. That is basically my only expense this weekend Im cooking something tonight for a couple of friends...

[jag]

Cheers Deep!!
And guess what??
The mighty jag goes thru to the final at a club in Drumchapel:).
Pix on jaglives and a video on youtube later this evening.

[Champagne Socialist]

well done jag

[BeckyH]

Had 12 for Thanksgiving dinner, including one of the brothers and his wife and kids-no fights, no yelling, it was great!

[Champagne Socialist]

Bought Christmas presents for all the God children nieces and nephews.

Wish I could get a jumper with "Santa Died in 376AD" rampant commercialism annoys me.

[Deep Black]

'll be heading out for a pre-Christmas drinkie with people I probably haven't been out for a drink with since last years pre-Christmas drinkie :)

[Champagne Socialist]

Do you fancy a drink
Just the one
To clear your head
We won't be long
It's a beautiful day
To waste away
There's plenty of time
For another one

[jag]

Going down to Liverpool, but not for pleasure, as my wife has to go an ocular specialist to have a growth removed from behind her right eye. Could be there for several days as it involves some sort of radiation treatment. Christmas is cancelled in the jag household, but you all have a good one and I'll see you in the new year.

[Conscious Bob]

Going down to Liverpool, but not for pleasure, as my wife has to go an ocular specialist to have a growth removed from behind her right eye. Could be there for several days as it involves some sort of radiation treatment. Christmas is cancelled in the jag household, but you all have a good one and I'll see you in the new year.

I'm sorry to read that jag. All the best to your good lady and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Deep Black]

Bummer. Hope all turns out ok.

[Champagne Socialist]

All the best mate.

[RedKing]

Good luck and best wishes to you both.

[jag]

Got back this afternoon. The worst week of my life. Thanks for the support guys, Rosie is doing OK and just glad to be home, I cried several times whilst stuck in the hotel on my own. Liverpool is a great city but I didn't get much chance to explore; and what a miserable bunch of sods the scousers are!

[Deep Black]

Welcome back, hope the recovery goes smoothly & you can all have a decent Christmas.

_____________________________


At the weekend I'll be having a big fat steak

[BeckyH]

Sorry to hear about Rosie, but it's good she's getting along nicely. I hope the rest of your holidays are happier!

[Deep Black]

I'll be off the the SFX Weekender, see y'all next week...

[Macros1980]

Went with my girlie to stay with my Dad and his wife for the weekend. Played lots of board games and had lots of good food and drink.

[Champagne Socialist]

What kind of board games are we talking about here?
Monopoly and Cluedo? Or are you erimenting with entry boardgamegeek games like Catan? Or, are you already hooked on the heavy dope... Civilization, Through the ages... Die Macher!
If so, you can find help.

[jag]

Put together a new coffe table and corner unit.

[Macros1980]

What kind of board games are we talking about here?
Monopoly and Cluedo? Or are you erimenting with entry boardgamegeek games like Catan? Or, are you already hooked on the heavy dope... Civilization, Through the ages... Die Macher!
If so, you can find help.

Firmly into the boardgamegeek category. :D

Played Dungeon Lords, a fairly new game in which 4 players compete to be the best dungeon master by building the best dungeon and defending it successfully from bands of non-player heroes. Pretty good fun, but I failed horribly. I messed up heavily during one of the resource management phases and never really recovered.

We also played Power Grid, a game involving acquiring power stations in an auction and then building your grid onto the board before other players grab all the best cities. It has an interesting mechanic whereby the turn order changes according to the number of cities supplied by each player. Play is in reverse order by number of cities, so whoever is losing gets first pick of power stations and cities each turn. I didn't win that one either, but came close.

I won one called Royal Turf, a simple horse racing game, before going for curry. Mmmm.

[Deep Black]

Here's a few pics from our SFX Weekend(er)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=153714&id=615011469&ref=nf

Link is to my wifes facebook thingy, I don't have one, hope it works...

[cabbo]

Went to a Reggae/Dub party in Belfast, got bored, came home.

[Champagne Socialist]

Firmly into the boardgamegeek category. :D

Played Dungeon Lords, a fairly new game in which 4 players compete to be the best dungeon master by building the best dungeon and defending it successfully from bands of non-player heroes. Pretty good fun, but I failed horribly. I messed up heavily during one of the resource management phases and never really recovered.


I like the sound of that. Will have to get me a copy.
It sounds like you might also like Small world.



We also played Power Grid, a game involving acquiring power stations in an auction and then building your grid onto the board before other players grab all the best cities. It has an interesting mechanic whereby the turn order changes according to the number of cities supplied by each player. Play is in reverse order by number of cities, so whoever is losing gets first pick of power stations and cities each turn. I didn't win that one either, but came close.


I like power grid, but I always loose because I try to gain and stick to purely renewable energy sources, whereas my wife is a serious poluter and wipes the floor with me.

I guess you'll have played Agricola and ticket to ride already?

I won one called Royal Turf, a simple horse racing game, before going for curry. Mmmm.[/QUOTE]

[Macros1980]

I like the sound of that. Will have to get me a copy.
It sounds like you might also like Small world.


From the looks of it (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40692/small-world), I probably would. I don't think my Dad has that one and his birthday is coming up. :)



I like power grid, but I always loose because I try to gain and stick to purely renewable energy sources, whereas my wife is a serious poluter and wipes the floor with me.


It was the first time I'd played it. We played on the Brazil board. Your wife's style of play and yours sound like my Dad's and his wife's, respectively. Dad bought a big nuclear plant early on and took advantage of the lack of competition for uranium, while Alison, his wife, bought up all the wind farms. :)

I just bought what seemed prudent at the time, mainly oil plants.



I guess you'll have played Agricola and ticket to ride already?


I've not played Agricola, but I'm pretty sure my Pa has it tucked away somewhere. I do enjoy a bit of Ticket to Ride, though.

[Deep Black]

At the weekend I...

...went on this Ale Trail:
http://www.realaletrail.net/

[jag]

Went for a hike along the cliffs at Ethie, smoked a dobbie, played my uke, made a couple of soopid vids and posted them on youtube, ate some pakora, smoked a doobie, played red dead redemption, smoked a doobie and went to bed. The End.

[Deep Black]

Painted the fence & wished I'd not bothered starting as the sprayer conked after about 1/10th of the job :( to much to leave as it was & way too much to do with a brush. So 5 hours later I've finished with the brush :o

[jag]

Went dolphin spotting. Damn those elusive velvet torpedoes!

[BeckyH]

Went to NYC and collected my niece for a visit with her Bubby. Also stopped in at a class a friend was teaching on paper engineering, much to his surprise. Friday the niece and I are taking the train back to NYC. You can't even get a train trip this long in the UK-the whole place is too small!

[Deep Black]

But perfectly formed ;)

I'll be off to this folky festival this weekend:
http://www.offthetracks.co.uk/
In a 1966 caravan

[RedKing]

Oddly, I've been listening to Caravan from 1968. :)

[Conscious Bob]

Sitting in an Internet cafe in Sidari, Corfu. We've had ten days of sun but it's pi**ing down today.

[Halmyre]

I have been hacking back some of the more overgrown parts of the garden and am now a mass of aches and scratches, which will shortly be cured by the internal application of Old Pulteney single malt.

[RedKing]

Had a trip out to Beamish Steam Festival and entered into a 100 man Tug-of-War against a Traction Engine. Guess who won?

[jag]

You?

Had a haircut!!

[jag]

Spent a good while digging my car in and out of the freak snow we've had up here. We had some 'Thundersnow' which is a rare weather phenomenem normally experienced in USA. Think Thunder & lightening mixed in with blizzards. Weird & scary for the women and animals.

[Deep Black]

But not for a big strong man like you eh?

[Champagne Socialist]

Worked.
Which is the main reason why I have been so quiet recently, that and living in two places. It's much more draining than I expected.
I'm getting old

[jag]

Managed to get to work but we had to close all day Wed and Thurs aft. Spent the time usefully by playing NFS on the Xbox on the big screens.

[jag]

Had to go and get a colonoscope up the arse as I've not been keeping too well and have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease!!
Got to go for further tests and get put on medication.

[Deep Black]

Poor jag, hope it goes ok for you...

[edash]

Had to go and get a colonoscope up the arse as I've not been keeping too well and have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease!!
Got to go for further tests and get put on medication.

Poor jag indeed. Not a pleasant situation at all.

I have IBS which is sort of like IBD-lite, so know a little of what you're going through (especially the colonoscopy).

[Conscious Bob]

Had to go and get a colonoscope up the arse as I've not been keeping too well and have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease!!
Got to go for further tests and get put on medication.

You and Rosie have had a rough old time of it, take it easy jag.

[Deep Black]

... went to see Devin Townsend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2n45Sutwig

[jag]

You and Rosie have had a rough old time of it, take it easy jag.

Thanks mate, will do.

[Deep Black]

...went too
http://www.fusedfestival.com/
& stopped in out 1966 caravan :)

[Champagne Socialist]

Had to go and get a colonoscope up the arse as I've not been keeping too well and have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease!!
Got to go for further tests and get put on medication.

youch. You've been in the wars recently.
Will you be managing with diet?

[jag]

I'm 11 1/2 stone now, I can see my ribs!! Not as bad as 1st feared as the docs think the inflammation is in remission and I've to take 4 big ugly pills a day for a month and then go back to the hozzy in Aug for further analysis. No spicy food or tomato based sauces, though I've been eating loads of steaks/chops, baked potatoes, peas, sausages, toast and the occasional Macdees. "There's something in my belly and I really need to get the fucker out!"

[Deep Black]

Well do what needs to be done Jag...
All best

[jag]

Yeah, been taking the pills to reduce the inflamation and it all seems to be drifting along quite nicely, but still no spicy foods or kebabs etc.

[Conscious Bob]

Had a real good night, All Bar One, Sambuca.

[Liberty]

Watched this charming film:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469263/
The Astronaut Farmer
http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTg5NzkwMzA4NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDc0ODU0MQ@@._ V1._SX300_SY446_.jpg

[jag]

Applied to be an extra in a short sci-fi film by local film makers, but alas, they didn't need me.

[Deep Black]

'll be going to this:
http://www.highvoltagefestival.com/
Great line up :)

[Conscious Bob]

Had a pizza in a Pizza Express in Philadelphia last night or Glasgow as it used to be known.

[Champagne Socialist]

Applied to be an extra in a short sci-fi film by local film makers, but alas, they didn't need me.

Anyone being an extra in world war zeeeeee?

[Conscious Bob]

Not me, work got in the way.

As compensation when I go home it's via George Square, the phone's got some good piccys on it.

Heh, I know of a guy that was approached by the film crew while he was in town, they needed a tall man in dark clothes. They asked for an hour of his time but he declined as he only had forty minutes on his car ticket...

[jag]

Got a haircut, slept late and smiled.

[Conscious Bob]

Seen the Alasdair Gray exhibition at the Glasgow Modern Art Gallery.

[Champagne Socialist]

visited my sister and new nephew, who like all small babies was slimy and mostly boring

[jag]

Went to the Glamis country fayre and chilled in the sun whilst people rode horses,fired guns,herded geese and paid £4 for a burger!

[Conscious Bob]

Cleaned out my second shed, yes I am a man with two sheds.

This is the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and I think it's one of those events where everyone remembers where they were when they first heard the news.

Ten years ago today I was cycling to Culross. I stopped in Bainsford outside Falkirk for a fish supper and that's where I first seen the news coverage.

Anybody else remember where they were?

[Deep Black]

I was at work (in an office with the internet) there wasn't much work done that day.
The 1st footage of a tower falling was on a TV in a garage were I was taking the car in to have something or other done

[Champagne Socialist]

floated in the sea a bit and then flew back from a last minute week off in Greece. Decided I needed a break, tired out after moving.
Now absolutely krackered after landing at 1.30am :-p

[Deep Black]

I'll be seeing the Enid this eve, with a full orchestra & 200 piece choir.
Plus Alan Moore reciting on stage
http://www.theenid.co.uk/news/50-enidi-news/144-the-big-show-for-2011.html

[Deep Black]

Well I'm not sure Alan went down to well
But I'm sure he didn't give a toss
Great eve :)

[Deep Black]

Not quite booed off the stage ;)

[Conscious Bob]

Well I'm not sure Alan went down to well
But I'm sure he didn't give a toss
Great eve

How did you rate Alan's performance, if say ten (excellent) is John Cooper Clarke's live poetry and one (oh dear) is Spike Milligan's live poetry?

[Deep Black]

About 7/10.
He was good but not inspiring.
He got heckled but spoke through it.
Not sure if the heckling was due to the content of the poem or just because they wanted the band back on?
I though it was great to see & hear though

[Champagne Socialist]

Have been trying to find a new Church, having moved house. No luck so far.
Discussion might move to the religion thread.

[Conscious Bob]

None about your neighbourhood at all?

[Champagne Socialist]

None about your neighbourhood at all?

Not all churches are the same. Not all people are the same, so.
But so far I haven't found one I feel at home at. I've only tried 3 so far.
1 was a bit small, nice people, but bland. Oh and 1 guy who tried to convince me that bankers aren't to blame for the financial mess. A real Tory. Being in a new place it'd be nice to find somewhere larger to meet more people.
The second was larger, but very hyperactive, that suits some people, but not me. And the last one was very small (only 10 or so people) and full of weirdo's who think science is the enemy, 6 day creationists who believe dinosaurs walked the earth with humans. They even acknowledged that the distinct writing style of the creation story doesn't describe a literal historic 6 days, but said that we should interpret it as a literal 6 days anyway, which is just baseless braindead dogmatic double-think. Faith for the hard of thinking. I got very angry, but fortunately only a little sweary. Fortunately that type are all but extinct, unfortunately that fact seems to have made them even more stubbornly contrary.

[Old Vig]

Have the faithful not discovered t'internet yet? Surely you can meet infinite likeminded devout in these parts.

[Champagne Socialist]

Yeah, there's even a website (shipoffools.com). It can be quite a sarcy forum, they even have their own parody of the national current terror threat level, the current chance of rapture.
But I haven't got a membership log in thing back yet. They do tend to get heavily trolled.

[Conscious Bob]

Well best of luck with the hunt.

[Deep Black]

So what branch of belief are you looking for in this Church?

[Champagne Socialist]

So what branch of belief are you looking for in this Church?

??? ... ??? ... Hmm...
Well so far I've generally stuck with non-denominational progressive churches that have a strong emphasis on teaching and friendly sociable people.

[Conscious Bob]

Cleared up the wreckage from the storm, needed help getting a shed picked up but it's upright once more. A large flat piece of mortar came away from the chimney too. Beloved and the car were fortunately out and no one was walking past our flat when the Hurricane was flinging mortar frisbees, could've been sore.

[Conscious Bob]

Returned from the Ubiquitous Chip, stuffed.